Self oiling axle bearing



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. S. PATTEN. SELF OILING AXLE BEARING.

Paten bed Dec. 30,1890.

WITNESSES S E N u 0 r r A No Model.) 2 sheets -sheet J. s PATTEN.

SELF OILING AXLE BEARING.

No. 448374. I Patented Dec. 30,1890.

iii

A WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOR:

I f$.faZ2'Zz7L. BY Z16 v ATTORNEYS NITKED STATES PATENT Trice.

JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO "HIMSELF AND EDIVIN HIGGINS, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-OILING AXLE-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,974, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed September 1'7. 1890. Serial No. 365 1303. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. PATTEN, re-

siding at Baltimore city, Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self- Oiling Axle-Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in selfoiling axle-bearings, and especially on the construction shown in my former patent,

IO No. 422,150, dated February 25, 1890; and the present invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

:5 Vhile my invention is herein shown and will be described as applied to a vehicle-axle, I. wish it understood that I do not limit myself to such use, as the invention maybe employed to advantage in various other j ournal- 2o bearings without departing from the broad principles of my invention.

. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical and Fig. 2 a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of my improvement. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. atisa detail top plan view of a part of the axle and spindle. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of the camring, a part of the axle-box being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cover-plate for the oil cavity or reservoir, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the knob-like piece or head for the spring.

The axle A has its spindle B provided in its upper side with a longitudinal groove and is provided in its upper side in rear of shoulder D with a recess or reservoir E in line with groove 0, and connected therewith by an opening (1, formed through the shoulder D. At opposite sides of and above the reservoir E are formed undercut guides F for the cover-plate G, whose edges are adapted to said guides, so that the cover-plate can be readily slid into and out of position over the reservoir when the wheel is removed from the spindle to permit convenient access to the said reservoir. In order to supply oil to the 5 0 cavity or reservoir.

mally closed by a swing spring-plate II. This plate is of spring metal, is hinged or pivoted at h to the axle, and has near its swinging end a knob or handle I on its upper side, and on its under side, in alignment With handle I, it has a slight projection t, which in the normal position of the swing-plate enters the opening g and locks the plate H from jarring or jolting out of place.

A vent-hole J is formed through plate I-I, 6o usually and preferably through the knob I and projection t', as shown. This plate H may be readily swung to one side to expose opening g when it is desired to supply oil to the reservoir.

A rod K is supported to slide longitudinally in the groove 0 and through the opening 01 into the reservoir. This rod is given an outward tension by means of a spring M, fitting at one end on a bearing-stud L on the inner wall of the reservoir and at its other end on a knob-like piece or head N, which has a socket n for the inner end of the rod K. This construction of head N and spring alfords an even smooth bearing against the inner end of the rod K and operates to force the said rod outward after it has been moved inward by the devices which I will now describe.

The axle-box 0 may, except in the particulars hereinafter described, be of ordinary construction. Within this box 0, near its outer end, I secure the cam-ring P. This ring has its inner face 19 formed cam-shaped and arranged to be pressed against by the outer end of the rod K, so that as the wheel turns 8 5 the cam-ring will operate to force the rod K inward and then permit it to be returned by its actuating-spring before described. This operation results in a reciprocating movement of the oiling-rod K, effecting an even distribution of the oil, as desired.

The axle-box is provided with or carries the cam-ring, which is preferably held from turning, independent of the axle-box, by form- I ing in its outer side a slot Q, which receives a pin or stud q, projecting inwardly from the axle-box, as most clearly'shown in Fig. 5.

The spring M, in addition to actuating the rod K, serves to agitate the oil in the cavity and operates in a measure to keep the same from clogging or gumming in its reservoir. For such reason and for convenience of arrangement Iprefer to arrange the spring M in the oil-cavity and to employ a spring of the coil variety, as shown.

My invention is especially adapted for use upon all kinds of vehicles, such as carriages, wagons, railway-cars, &o. I have described it as applied to the axle of a vehicle; but I do not confine myself to such use, as it may be applied to a great many kinds of machinery, whether portable or stationary, and for light or heavy bearings. In railway-cars, 850., and machinery upon which axles or journals revolve my invention is applied by reversing it, so as to make it effective, such construction being carried out by providing the cam-ring on the axle. or revolving part and the grooved slide-rod and oil-cavity in the non-rotating box or hearing, as will be readily understood, and it will be understood that such construction may, to a certain extent, be regarded as the equivalent of that shown and hereinbefore more fully described.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. A self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, consisting of the axle having a spindle portion provided with a longitudinal groove communicating with an oil-reservoir, a rod sliding in said groove, aspring for actuating said rod in one direction, and the axlebox provided with a cam by Which to force the rod in the opposite direction, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, comprising, in combination, the axle having an oil-reservoir and a spindle portion provided with a longitudinal groove communicating with the said oil-reservoir, a rod sliding in the said groove, a spring adapted to move said rod in one direction, such spring being located in the oil-reservoir, and means by Which to move the rod in the opposite direction, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a self-oiling bearing, substantially as described,the combination of the axle having an oil-reservoir and a spindle portion provided With a groove communicating with said reservoir, the rod sliding in said groove, the head-like part N, fitted on the end of said rod Within the oil-reservoir, and the spring engaging said head-like piece, all substantially as set forth.

4. In a self-oilingbearing, thecombination, with the spindle portion having a longitudinal groove and the rod sliding in said groove,

of the box fitted on said spindle portion and having a cam-surface arranged to engage the f outer end of the sliding rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination, with the spindle portion having a longitudinal groove, the rod slidingin said groove, and the box fitted on said spindle portion and having a pin q, of the cam-ring fitted in said box and having a slot Q to receive the pin q, and a cam-surface to engage the outer end of the slide-rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

t. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil-reservoir and provided at the opposite sides thereof with undercut guides and having the spindle portion provided with a longitudinal groove, the cover-plate fitted to the undercut guides at the opposite sides of the oil-reservoir, the rod sliding in the groove of the spindle, and means whereby to operate said slide-rod, all substantially as setforth.

7. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil cavity or reservoir, the cover fitted to said reservoir and having an opening g, and the spring swing-plate arranged to be adjusted to cover said opening 9 and having a vent arranged to register with the opening g, substantially as set forth.

8. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil-reservoir and provided with a spindle portion having a longitudinal groove communicating with said reservoir, the cover-plate fitted over the reservoir, the rod sliding in the groove of the spindle and projecting at one end into the oil-reservoir, the cap-like piece N, fitted on said end of the slide-rod,the spring engaging said piece N, the axle-box fitted on said spindle, and the ring fitted in said box and having a cam-surface arranged to engage the outer end of the slide-rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

0. In a self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, the combination of the axle or shaft, the box or bearing, one of such parts being provided with an oil cavity or reservoir and a groove communicating therewith, a rod supported to slide in the said groove, a spring by which the said rod is actuated in one direction, and a cam by which the said rod is moved in the opposite direction, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JAMES S. PATTEN. Witnesses:

THos. KELL BRADFORD, H. K. BROWN. 

